Paper tape loading tool

ABSTRACT

A roll paper tape loading tool is provided for use in multi-tape printing machines and the like wherein the leading edge of a fresh roll of paper tape may be supported for convenient and facile insertion into and through the passageway leading to and extending beyond the print-receiving position, such tool serving to provide curl-removing rigidity to the leading edge of the tape during its insertional excursion and being also conveniently removable from the leading edge of the tape upon exiting of the tool from the passageway.

United States Patent [191 Thomas Nov. 13, 1973 PAPER TAPE LOADING TOOL 3,656,676 4 1972 Hope 226/92 Inventor: J D. Thomas, Plymouth Mich 3,713,649 1/1973 Van Kempen 226/92 [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Mich. Attorney-Paul W. Fish et a1.

[22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' 320545 A roll paper tape loading tool is provided for use in multi-tape printing machines and the like wherein the 52 vs. Cl. 226/92 leading g of a fresh roll of p p p y be p- [51] int. Cl. G03b 1/56 ported for convenient and facile insertion o and [58] Field of Search 226/92, 200, 96, through the passageway e d g to and extending 226/91 yond the print-receiving position, such tool serving to provide curl-removing rigidity to the leading edge of [5 6] R ferenc Cit d the tape during its insertional excursion and being also UNITED STATES PATENTS conveniently removable from the leading edge of the 3,127,079 3/1964 Allander 226/92 tape upon exmng of the from-the passageway 3,619,050 1l/l971 Swanke 226/92 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures in F e v 1| l7 PAIENIEUNM 13 ms SHEU 38F 3 PAPER TAPE LOADING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in the provision of an effective and economical tool as an accommodation to the paper tape replenishment process as it exists in multi-tap printers and the like, an example of such multi-tape printers being disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,704,666 titled High Speed Multiple Tape Serial Printing Mechanism, and in the patent application by Harry L. Wal lace titled Multiple Tape Printing Apparatus and Housing Facility Therefore/such application having been filed on Aug. 2, 1972- and assigned Ser. No. 277,380, such patent and patent application being owned by the assignee of the present invention anddirected to a check encoding and sorting machine generally illustrated in FIG. 1, which is particularly-adapted for use in banks and commercial institutions. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the Multi-Tape Printing Apparatus therein disclosed provides a plurality of tape 'supply rolls 3 mounted on a common shaft 5, the shaft 5 being removably supported by a pair of side plates 7 forming a part of a telescopic frame structure generally indicated at 9 and including a pair of guide rails 11. The plurality of tape supply rolls 3, five being shown in FIG. 1, are each separately associated with a corresponding printing mechanism of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, each printing mechanism being comprised of a rotatable print drum 13 having type characters 15 disposed along its periphery, a hammer 17, a force applying member 19, and a solenoid 21. Each of the several print drums I3 is fixed to a common rotatable shaft 23, and the hammer 17 of each printing mechanism is separatelyv actuatable by its corresponding solenoid 21 to thereby form printing impressions on selected ones of the paper tapes. Each printing mechanism isalso provided with separate feed means generally indicated at 25, such feed means being comprised of a ratchet wheel 27, a pair of feed rollers 29, a pawl 31, and a solenoid33. I f

Tobriefly explain the configuration and operation of the check encoding, and sorting machine illustrated in FIG. 1, a computer unit generally. designated' at 35'is comprised ofa keyboard 37, a master tapeprinting mechanism generally designated at 39, a check receiving pocket 41, and a check conveying path 43 leading along the conveying paths 43 and to selected ones of the tape printer unit 47 being likewise activated to print data represented on the face of the individual checks on the tapes corresponding to the selected pockets.

It is apparent from the above brief description of the operation of the check encoding and sorting machine of FIG. 1 that the plurality of tape supply rolls 3 will be consumed at a varying rate according to theactivity of check receipts in i the corresponding pockets 49, thereby requiring that the several supply rolls 3 be replenished after varying time intervals. To replenish or replace a tape supply roll 3 it is necessary that the shaft 5 be removed from the side plates 7 and that a new supply roll be substituted for each of the rolls that has been depleted. In addition to the placement of a fresh tape supply roll on the shaft 5, and re-installation of the shaft 5 relative to the side plates 7, the replenishment of each tape supply roll requires that its leading edge be guidably introduced and advanced along a passageway represented by the tape 57 in FIG. 2, such passageway leading toand extending beyond the print drum 13 and the paper feed means 25, and leading from the paper feed means 25 to a bin receptacle 59 having a hinged cover 61 effective for diverting the tape 57 into a coiled state within the receptacle 59. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the introduction and advancement of the leading edge of the tape 57 along the. illustrated passageway, and particularly along those portions of the passageway adjacent the print drum 13 and the paper feed means 25, would constitute a tedious and formidable task, such task being aggravated by the sharp turns in said portions and by the obstacles presented in the form of the type characters 15 of the print drur'n 13. The introduction and advancement of the leading edge of the tape 57 along the illustrated passageway is additionally encumbered by the presence of a pre-set curl in the leading edge of the tape, such presetcurltending; to conform to its pre-installation position relative to the periphery of the supply roll, and

tending also, during'the advancement ,of the leading from the receiving pocket 41 to a conveying path 45 of a sorter and tape printer unit generallydesignated at 47. The sorter and tape printer unit 47 is comprised of a plurality of pockets 49 each communicating with the conveying path 45 by'means of separate passages 51. The tape printer unit, not shown in detail in FIG. 1 but comprised of a plurality of separate printing units corresponding in structure to that shown in FIG. 2, is supported by a platform 53 that is normally retractably disposed underneath' the pockets 49 and is telescopically extendable to the position shown in FIG. 1 to provide ready access to the tape supply rolls 3 for tape replenishment purposes. It can thus be seen that with the platform 53 retractably disposed underneath the plurality of pockets 49, and with a hinged door 55 disposed in a clockwise-activated closed position, an operator would remove checks individually from the receiving pocket 41, insert the removed checks into the check conveying path 43, and activate control means within the computer unit 35. by means of the keyboard 37, whereupon the individual checks would be transported edge of the .tape, to obstructionably lirnit against the type characters 15of'the print drum, and to obstructionably deviatefrom the passageway leading from the print drum 13 to the paper feed means 25.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an economical and expendable tool to facilitate the replenishment of tape supply rolls in multi-tape printing devices of the general type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, such tool being particularly effective for guid ing the leading edges of new tape supply rolls along passageways of a kind represented by the reference number 57 in FIG. 2, and especially along those portions of such passageways where sharp turns and obstructions such as print drums and feed rollers are presented.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an economical and expendable tool-for counteracting and removing the pre-set curl that is normally present in the leading edges of fresh tape supply rolls, such that the leading edges may be guided with facility into and through the passageways leading past the printing mechanisms in printing devices.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an economical and expendable paper tape loading tool'wherein the leading edges of fresh tape supply rolls may be inserted with convenience at the inception of the replenishment process, and wherein the tool may be separated from the leading edge of the tape with equal convenience and facility upon exiting of the tool and leading edge of the tape from the passageway.

An important aspect of the present invention is provision of a pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members of predetermined length and of corresponding width to the width of the paper tape, such members being joined together for a predetermined portion of their linear length to form an open-ended pocket adjacent thereto, into which pocket the leading edge of the tape may be inserted at the inception of the tape replenishment process, and from which the leading edge of the tape may be removed upon exiting'of the tool from the passageway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the foregoing and following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1, as previously indicated, is a view of a check encoding and sorting machine having a plurality of tape supply rolls and a corresponding plurality of tape printer units, the inventive tool being particularly useful for replenishing the tape supply rolls and for guiding the leading ledges of the tapes into and through the passageways leading past the print drums of the printer units to corresponding bin receptacles;

FIG. 2, as previously indicated, is a fragmentary elevational view of a printer unit used in multiples in the check encoding and sorting machine illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fresh tape supply roll mounted on a supporting shaft with the leading edge of the tape shown in insertable relationship relative to the open-ended pocket of the tape insertion tool; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the construction of the inventive, paper tape loading tool.

DESCRIPTION, OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As previously noted, the present invention resides in the provision of a paper tape loading tool effective for supporting and guiding the leading edges of the tapes into and along the paper passageways leading past the printing mechanisms in tape printing devices, such tool being effective also for removing the pre-set curl that is imparted to the leading edge of the tape by its preinstallation coiled relationship relative to the periphery of the roll.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inventive paper tape loading tool is comprised of apair of rigidly-flexible supporting members 63 of predetermined length and of a width corresponding to the width of the tape 57, the leading edges 65 of the supporting members 63 being joined together for a predetermined linear length thereof by a strip of suitable adhesive material 67, such strip being of corresponding length to the linear length of the connected ends of the members 63, of a width corresponding to the width of the supporting members 63, and of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the paper tape 57. An open-ended pocket 69 formed by the unconnected trailing edges of the flexibly-rigid supporting members 63 is of suitable width to receive the full width of the leading edge 71 of the paper tape and of suitable linear length 'for grippably retaining the leading edge of the tape throughout the paper tape replenishment process. The leading edges 65 of the supporting members 63 are further tapered slightly as indicated at 73 in FIG. 3, such tapering facilitating the introduction and advancement of the paper tape loading tool into and along the passageway shown in FIG. 2.

The pair of supporting members 63 may be formed of any suitable rigidly-flexible material, such as mylar film, and the adhesive material 67 may be formed of any suitable material having two-sided adhesive surfaces effective for adhering to mylar film.

While a preferred embodiment of the paper tape loading tool has been shown and described in considerable detail, both with respect to its composition and formation, and to the usage to which it has been particularly adapted, it will be understood that variations and modifications in both its formation and usage may be made Without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A paper insertion tool particularly adapted for installing fresh rolls of paper tape in tape printing devices and the like, such devices having one or more roll paper mounting means and associated curvilinear passageways leading therefrom past corresponding printing mechanisms to the control of corresponding paper feed means effective for advancing the tape to an exit position or to a bin receptacle, said insertion tool comprising:

a. a pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members of predetermined length and of corresponding width to said paper tape,

b. an adhesive member effective for securably connecting said supporting members together for a predetermined portion of their linear length, and

c. an open-ended pocket of predetermined length formed by the unconnected ends of said pair of supporting members and disposed linearly adjacent said adhesive member, whereby the leading edge of a fresh roll of paper tape may be positioned in said open-ended pocket to be supported by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members for convenient insertion thereof along and through said curvilinear passageway past said printing mechanism and to said exit position or bin receptacle, said insertion of said leading edge being required in the process of installing a fresh roll of paper tape into a said printing device or the like.

2. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said flexibly-rigid supporting members are comprised of mylar film.

3. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive member is formed of a doublebacked adhesive tape.

4. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive member and said predetermined portion of said pair of supporting members securably connected together thereby provide a leading edge of said insertion tool effective for negotiating said curvilinear passageway leading past said printing mechanism to said exit position or bin receptacle.

5. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined length of said open-ended pocket is sufficient for grippably retaining said leading edge of said roll paper tape upon the insertion of said tool and said leading. edge of said paper tape along and through said passageway.

6. The paper insertion tool defined in claim wherein said leading edge thereof formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members and said adhesive member is angularly tapered to further facilitate the insertion thereof into and along said passageway.

7. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said open-ended pocket formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members is effective for grippably and retainably holding said leading edge of said paper tape during the advancement of said tool along said passageway to said exit position or bin receptacle, and effective also for relinquishing its gripping hold on said leading edge of said tape in the vicinity of said exit position or bin receptacle when said tape is restricted against a facile further advancement by said paper feed means, whereby said tool may be conveniently separated from said leading edge of said tape by pulling said tool outwardly and away from said printing device.

8. A paper tape loading tool particularly adapted for introducing and advancing the leading edge of a fresh roll of paper tape into and through a paper guideway in a printing device, said guideway presenting a curvilinear first configuration and said leading edge of said paper tape by reason of its pre-set rolled state presenting an arcuate second configuration different from said first configuration, whereby the lack of conformity as between said first and said second configurations tends to obstruct the introduction and advancement of said leading edge of said paper tape into and through said paper guideway, said paper tape loading tool comprismg:

a. a pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members of predetermined length and of corresponding width to said paper tape,

b. an adhesive member effective for securably connecting said supporting members together for a predetermined portion of their linear length, and

c. an open-ended pocket of predetermined length formed by the unconnected ends of said pair of supporting members and disposed linearly adjacent said adhesive member, whereby upon the positioning of said leading edge of said paper tape in said pocketand in abutting relationship with said adhesive member said arcuate second configuration of said leading edge of said paper tape is negated and rendered flexibly conformable to said curvilinear first configuration of said guideway such that said leading edge of said tape may be introduced into and advanced along and through said guideway without obstruction or jamming.

9. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said flexibly-rigid supporting members are comprised of mylar film.

10. The paperinsertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said adhesive member is a double-backed adhesive tape. 7

11. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said adhesive member and said predetermined portion of said pair of supporting memberssecurably connected together thereby provide a leading edge of said loading tool for negotiating'said curvilinear guideway of said printing device.

12. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said predetermined length of said open-ended pocket is sufficient for grippably retaining said leading edge of said roll paper tape upon the insertion of said tool and said leading edge of said paper tape along and through said guideway.

13. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 11 wherein said leading edge thereof formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members and said adhesive member is angularly tapered to further facilitate the insertion thereof into and'along said guideway.

14. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said open-ended pocket formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members is effective for grippably and retainably holding said leading edge of said paper tape during the advancement of said tool along and through said guideway, and effective also for relinquishing its gripping hold on said leading edge of said tape when, upon the exiting of the leading edge of said toolfrom said guideway, said leading edge is manually gripped and pulled away from said printing device. 

1. A paper insertion tool particularly adapted for installing fresh rolls of paper tape in tape printing devices and the like, such devices having one or more roll paper mounting means and associated curvilinear passageways leading therefrom past corresponding printing mechanisms to the control of corresponding paper feed means effective for advancing the tape to an exit position or to a bin receptacle, said insertion tool comprising: a. a pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members of predetermined length and of corresponding width to said paper tape, b. an adhesive member effective for securably connecting said supporting members together for a predetermined portion of their linear length, and c. an open-ended pocket of predetermined length formed by the unconnected ends of said pair of supporting members and disposed linearly adjacent said adhesive member, whereby the leading edge of a fresh roll of paper tape may be positioned in said open-ended pocket to be supported by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members for convenient insertion thereof along and through said curvilinear passageway past said printing mechanism and to said exit position or bin receptacle, said insertion of said leading edge being required in the process of installing a fresh roll of paper tape into a said printing device or the like.
 2. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said flexibly-rigid supporting members are comprised of mylar film.
 3. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive member is formed of a double-backed adhesive tape.
 4. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive member and said predetermined portion of said pair of supporting members securably connected together thereby provide a leading edge of said insertion tool effective for negotiating said curvilinear passageway leading past said printing mechanism to said exit position or bin receptacle.
 5. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined length of said open-ended pocket is sufficient for grippably retaining said leading edge of said roll paper tape upon the insertion of said tool and said leading edge of said paper tape along and through said passageway.
 6. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 4 wherein said leading edge thereof formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members and said adhesive member is angularly tapered to further facilitate the insertion thereof into and along said passageway.
 7. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 1 wherein said open-ended pocket formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members is effective for grippably and retainably holding said leading edge of said paper tape during the advancement of said tool along said passageway to said exit position or bin receptacle, and effective also for relinquishing its gripping hold on said leading edge of said tape in the vicinity of said exit position or bin receptacle when said tape is restricted against a facile further advancement by said paper feed means, whereby said tool may be conveniently separated from said leading edge of said tape by pulling said tool outwardly and away from said printing device.
 8. A paper tape loading tool particularly adapted for introducing and advancing the leading edge of a fresh roll of paper tape into and through a paper guideway in a printing device, said guideway presenting a curvilinear first configuration and said leading edge of said paper tape by reason of its pre-set rolled state presenting an arcuate second configuration different from said first configuration, whereby the lack of conformitY as between said first and said second configurations tends to obstruct the introduction and advancement of said leading edge of said paper tape into and through said paper guideway, said paper tape loading tool comprising: a. a pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members of predetermined length and of corresponding width to said paper tape, b. an adhesive member effective for securably connecting said supporting members together for a predetermined portion of their linear length, and c. an open-ended pocket of predetermined length formed by the unconnected ends of said pair of supporting members and disposed linearly adjacent said adhesive member, whereby upon the positioning of said leading edge of said paper tape in said pocket and in abutting relationship with said adhesive member said arcuate second configuration of said leading edge of said paper tape is negated and rendered flexibly conformable to said curvilinear first configuration of said guideway such that said leading edge of said tape may be introduced into and advanced along and through said guideway without obstruction or jamming.
 9. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said flexibly-rigid supporting members are comprised of mylar film.
 10. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said adhesive member is a double-backed adhesive tape.
 11. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said adhesive member and said predetermined portion of said pair of supporting members securably connected together thereby provide a leading edge of said loading tool for negotiating said curvilinear guideway of said printing device.
 12. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said predetermined length of said open-ended pocket is sufficient for grippably retaining said leading edge of said roll paper tape upon the insertion of said tool and said leading edge of said paper tape along and through said guideway.
 13. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 11 wherein said leading edge thereof formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members and said adhesive member is angularly tapered to further facilitate the insertion thereof into and along said guideway.
 14. The paper insertion tool defined in claim 8 wherein said open-ended pocket formed by said pair of flexibly-rigid supporting members is effective for grippably and retainably holding said leading edge of said paper tape during the advancement of said tool along and through said guideway, and effective also for relinquishing its gripping hold on said leading edge of said tape when, upon the exiting of the leading edge of said tool from said guideway, said leading edge is manually gripped and pulled away from said printing device. 